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At St Mary's, we believe that student wellbeing is the foundation for successful learning. When children feel safe, connected, valued and supported, they are better able to engage in learning, develop positive relationships and flourish as confident members of our community.

Our approach to wellbeing is proactive, inclusive and centred on developing the whole child. We foster a culture where every student is known, respected and encouraged to reach their full potential academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support

St Mary's implements a School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) framework, an evidence-based approach that explicitly teaches, models and reinforces positive behaviours across all areas of school life. SWPBS focuses on creating a safe, predictable and supportive learning environment where students understand what is expected of them and are equipped with the skills to be successful learners and community members.

Our school-wide expectations are taught directly, practised regularly and reinforced consistently by all staff. Just as students learn literacy and numeracy, we believe positive behaviour is also taught and developed over time. Through clear expectations, positive recognition and consistent responses, students learn to demonstrate respect, responsibility, and safety.

Using student wellbeing and behaviour data, we continually evaluate our practices and provide additional supports for students when required. This tiered approach ensures that all students receive the level of support they need to thrive both socially and emotionally.

Restorative Practices

At St Mary's, relationships are at the heart of our wellbeing approach. We use Restorative Practices to build, maintain and repair relationships when challenges arise. Rather than focusing solely on consequences, restorative conversations help students understand the impact of their actions, take responsibility and work collaboratively to repair harm and rebuild trust.

Students are guided to reflect on questions such as:

  • What happened?
  • Who has been affected?
  • How can we make things right?
  • What can we do differently next time?

This approach develops empathy, accountability, problem-solving skills and emotional maturity. Restorative Practices help students learn from mistakes while maintaining their sense of belonging within the school community.

The Resilience Project

St Mary's is proud to partner with The Resilience Project, a whole-school wellbeing program that explicitly teaches students the skills needed to build resilience, positive mental health and emotional wellbeing.

The Resilience Project is built around the principles of:

Gratitude – appreciating the positive aspects of life

Empathy – understanding and valuing the experiences of others

Mindfulness – developing awareness of thoughts, feelings and emotions

Through classroom lessons, daily practices and whole-school initiatives, students learn practical strategies that help them manage challenges, strengthen relationships and develop a positive outlook. These skills support students not only during their primary years but throughout their lives.

Targeted Wellbeing Support

While our whole-school wellbeing programs support all students, we recognise that some children may require additional assistance at different stages of their development. As part of our Response to Intervention framework, St Mary's provides targeted wellbeing supports for students identified as needing additional social or emotional support.

One such intervention is 'Peaceful Kids' an evidence-based mindfulness and positive psychology program designed to support children experiencing anxiety and stress. Delivered by trained staff in small group settings, Peaceful Kids equips students with practical strategies to manage worry, regulate emotions, build resilience and develop confidence. The program complements our whole-school wellbeing approach and provides students with additional tools to navigate challenges both within and beyond the classroom.

A Culture of Belonging

At St Mary's, wellbeing is everyone's responsibility. Through strong partnerships between students, staff and families, we create a welcoming and inclusive environment where every child feels a genuine sense of belonging.

Our commitment to School Wide Positive Behaviour Support, Restorative Practices and The Resilience Project ensures that students are equipped with the social, emotional and behavioural skills needed to become confident, compassionate and resilient learners who contribute positively to the world around them.